The New Sport Growing in Popularity: FootGolf

A combination of golf and soccer, FootGolf is the new sport taking off with a bang in our area. This family-friendly sport is played with a regulation #5 soccer ball. Laid out on a traditional golf course, players aim for a large 21-inch cup, trying to make it into the cup in the least number of kicks possible. It takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete a 9-hole FootGolf course.

The basic rules of FootGolf largely correspond to those of a traditional game of golf:

• Wear golf appropriate apparel at all times.
• Your ball must be easy to identify.
• Review the score card and wait your turn. Make sure your kick will not interfere with other players. 
• Kick your ball from a position behind the tee markers.
• The ball must be played in a single movement. It is against the rules to push the ball with the top or bottom of your foot.
• Wait to play until the ball has completely come to rest.
• Play the ball where it lies. You may not move the ball except if the ball obstructs another player's kick.
• The player farthest from the hole is the first to kick.
• If the ball enters a hazard, retrieve and replace the ball within two steps from the closest point from where the ball entered the hazard, receiving a one stroke penalty.
• Only between holes may the ball be picked up and cleaned.

The Monmouth County Park System currently offers two FootGolf courses. A 9-hole course is located at Bel-Aire Golf Course in Wall and an 18-hole course is available at Pine Brook Golf Course in Manalapan. Play is available daily at Pine Brook after 12 p.m. and throughout the day at Bel-Aire. Weather permitting, Bel-Aire Golf Course remains open year round.

Rates are as follows:

• Bel-Aire 9-Hole Course - $7 for ages 12 and under; $10 for ages 13 and up
• Pine Brook 18-Hole Course - $9 for ages 12 and under; $12 for ages 13 and up
• Ball rentals are $2.50 each at either course 

FootGolf Outings and Birthday Parties are available at both courses. The cost is $15 per person at Bel-Aire and $20 per person at Pine Brook. The fee includes ball rentals, tee time reservations, and use of the golf center activity room. For outings and birthday parties, please call 732-462-9224, ext. 1#.

For full details on our FootGolf courses, click here.

Spend a Night Under the Stars

There's something about being among nature, cooking dinner over a campfire, and sleeping under the stars that brings family and friends together. Did you know you can escape your hectic routine and enjoy the togetherness and serenity of camping right here in Monmouth County? Turkey Swamp Park, located on Georgia Road in Freehold, offers a picturesque location with a long list of amenities that will give you and your family a perfect staycation.

Arriving at Turkey Swamp Park, the surroundings will captivate. This 2,261-acre park is surrounded by primitive wilderness; much of the park is forested by pitch pine and oak tress with an understory of bracken fern, pepper bush, blueberry, and catbriar. Many of the animals and plants associated with the New Jersey Pine Barrens can be found in the park. You can discover the nature of the park with a walk, run or bike ride on one of over nine miles of trails.

Toward the center of the park you will find a gorgeous 17-acre lake. Perfect for fishing and boating, this is one of the most popular sections of the park. Dropping a line in the calm waters offers the chance to catch bass, catfish and bluegills. (Bait can be purchased from the Campground Office from April-November.) Boat rentals are available from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on weekends from May 1 through June 19, and then daily until Labor Day, and again on weekends only from Labor Day through Columbus Day. Available boats include kayaks, rowboats, canoes and paddleboats. Boat rental prices are available here.

The campground area offers everything you need to enjoy the outdoors comfortably. The grounds feature wooded campsites, electrical service, water service (mid-April through mid-November), drinking water, modern restrooms with showers and laundry, dump station, fire rings, picnic tables, playgrounds, and vending machines. To make sure everyone's nights are peaceful, quiet hours have been set from 10 p.m. until 7 a.m.

Don't have a tent? Well that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the fun! Turkey Swamp Park has three cabins available for rent, one of which is ADA accessible. Each cabin has two rooms and feature a double bed and two bunk beds as well as lights and electrical outlets. Outside each cabin is a water spigot and picnic area with fire pit.

Call today (732-462-7286) to reserve your campsite! For more information on camping in beautiful Turkey Swamp Park, click here.